Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of crossbred Holstein × Zebu steers fed on the diets containing sugarcane in natura or ensiled with two levels of concentrate (30% and 70%). A total of 32 males of 394 kg of body weight were used in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments and seven repetitions. The animals reported a high dry matter intake (DMI) (P < 0.05) when fed on the high concentrate levels. The increase in concentrate levels resulted in an approximately 25% to 60% higher DMI as compared to the lowest level offered by silage-based diets and sugarcane in natura. The highest apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter were observed in the diets based on sugarcane in natura (P < 0.05). The sugarcane based diets also affected (P > 0.05) the digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, ether extract, and non-fiber carbohydrates. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between the diets for average daily weight gain, carcass dressing, carcass gain, and feed conversion. The diets based on sugarcane in nature or ensiled with 30% and 70% concentrates do not influence the performance of crossbred Holstein × Zebu cattle.
Highlights
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is used in cattle feed in the tropical climate owing to its high production of dry materno (DM) (Silva Junior et al, 2015)
Sugarcane silage is the main ingredient of the cattle diet in feedlots, the ensiling of sugarcane predominantly leads to alcoholic fermentation, which causes losses in its nutritional value
The dry matter intake (DMI) for the cattle fed on sugarcane in natura with 70% concentrate was higher (P < 0.05) as compared to the DMI observed when the steers were fed on sugarcane silage with 30% concentrate as depicted in (Table 2)
Summary
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is used in cattle feed in the tropical climate owing to its high production of dry materno (DM) (Silva Junior et al, 2015). Sugarcane silage is the main ingredient of the cattle diet in feedlots, the ensiling of sugarcane predominantly leads to alcoholic fermentation, which causes losses in its nutritional value. These losses are related to the high content of soluble carbohydrates and an increasing population of the epiphytic yeast (Mendes et al, 2008; Schmidt, 2006). In this regard, the use of numerous additives to control the population of yeast to reduce such losses is under study (Cezário et al, 2015). The silage of sugarcane may result in a better animal performance when the fermentation is controlled (Queiroz et al, 2008)
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